Dr. Jenner’s Experiment

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  “March 28th, 1797, I inoculated this girl and carefully rubbed the variolous matter into two slight incisions made upon the left arm. A little inflammation appeared in the usual manner around the parts where the matter was inserted, but so early as the fifth day it vanished entirely without producing any effect on the system.” —Edward Jenner (1749–1823). “The Three Original Publications on Vaccination Against Smallpox.” Portrait of Edward Jenner, painted by James Northcote in either 1803 or 1823

A Message to Holiday Depression

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"Depressions of spirit, humiliating thoughts of one’s self, deep and grievous bondage—all these, the children of God are well aware of. With Paul we have, at times, to cry, “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Beloved, it is well for us to know, as I am sure we do know experimentally, that in this matter of barrenness and desolation the creature can do but little. It is the Spirit that quickens—the flesh profits little. When we get into this state, we feel like a man who cannot swim. And the more we kick and struggle the more rapidly we sink. It seems as if all human energy were but the energy to sin and a power to make us yet more dead to true spiritual life.

Well, what are we to do, then? Why, let us remember that the text is addressed to us in just such a state. 'Sing, O barren! Break forth and cry aloud you that did not travail with child.' But what can I sing about? I cannot sing about the present. I cannot even sing concerning the past. Well, but yet I can sing of Jesus Christ, can I not? I can turn to that which precedes the text and I can sing of visits which the Redeemer has before paid to me! Or, if not of these, I can sing of the great love with which He loved His people when He came from the heights of Heaven for their redemption!

I will go to the Cross again! Come, my Soul, you were once heavy laden and you did lose your burden there. Come again, come again! Once you did wash in yonder fount and you were clean. O my poor bespattered Soul, come and wash again! A prodigal I once returned— He fell upon my neck and kissed me then. I will go to Jesus once more. Though my sins rise like mountains, I will be obedient to the Word which says, 'Return, you backsliding children, for I am married unto you, says the Lord.'"

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Charles Spurgeon, "Songs for Desolate Hearts: Isaiah 54:1" preached at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in 1865.

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